Children’s Use of Helmets Low During Sledding

TUESDAY, Jan. 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Only one in three parents report their child wears a helmet when sledding, according to a survey released by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.

Sarah J. Clark, and colleagues from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, conducted a national online survey of 1,992 U.S. parents of children aged 3 to 18 years to understand how parents keep children safe during winter activities.

Survey results showed that most parents report that their child wears a helmet when snowmobiling (83 percent at all times, 10 percent some of the time) and downhill skiing or snowboarding (73 percent at all times, 12 percent some of the time), but relatively few parents said their child wears a helmet when sledding (17 percent at all times, 14 percent some of the time). The proportion of parents who said their child wears a helmet was similar for younger (3 to 9 years) versus older children (10 to 18 years) for any activities.

“Activities like sledding, downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling offer a fun and exciting way for children to enjoy the winter months outdoors,” the authors write. “Parents need to remember that they are responsible for understanding the risks associated with these activities and taking steps to minimize the chance of injury to their child.”

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